Posts published in “Day: June 9, 2015”

HOUSTON – Hillary Rodham Clinton was awarded the first Barbara Jordan Leadership Award last Thursday, at a ceremony at Texas Southern University, by Sheila Jackson Lee. Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee, represents the historic 18th Congressional District which was also represented by the Honorable Barbara Jordan.

“Barbara Jordan has a unique and special leadership that placed her in the annals of American history. She had a great love for the Constitution and for the rights of all people.

She used her oratorical skills to speak for the voiceless and challenged us to be more courageous with a great sense of integrity,” stated Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee. For that reason, Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee envisioned a gold medallion presentation that would capture the essence of these qualities in the service of women in the United States and around the world. This project was developed in the last year and many who heard about it were impressed and inspired. Because of Barbara Jordan’s relationship with Texas Southern University, where her oratorical skills and scholarship were enhanced, Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee was inspired to bring this vision and to connect it to the Barbara Jordan – Mickey Leland School of Public Affairs and the Thurgood Marshall School of Law. Now that this proposal has come to fruition, we bestowed the annual presentation on June 4, 2015 and set the pace for honoring women and leaders around the world.

The first recipient of this inaugural award is the Honorable Hillary Rodham Clinton. ” Hillary Clinton personifies the courage and strength of Barbara Jordan through her years of work to ensure health insurance for all children, fighting for human rights for girls and women around the world, and her service to the most vulnerable in our society,” said Congresswoman Jackson Lee. Secretary Clinton has exemplified a unique scholarly approach to public service through her many works as First Lady, United States Senator, and as Secretary of State. Her efforts to ensure early childhood education, health insurance for all children, fighting for human rights for girls and women around the world, and her service to the most vulnerable in our society makes her a fitting nominee for the first Barbara Jordan Gold Medallion for Public-Private Leadership.

“For all of its uncertainty, we cannot flee the future” – Barbara Jordan. “The future is our children and we must not fail them,” stated Congresswoman Jackson Lee.

The ceremony took place last Thursday, June 4, 2015 at 2:00 pm on the campus of Texas Southern University in the Health and Physical Education Arena.

Share this:

GALVESTON, Texas — A 12 year old girl, missing after swimming in the waters off Galveston beach, has been found on Stewart Beach. She was on a field trip with the KIPP Voyage School, on Mesa Drive in North Forest area.

The Coast Guard has confirmed a body was found near Stewart Beach Saturday morning, May 30 by the Galveston Beach Patrol. The body matched the description of 12-year-old Samira Carlon.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with the family at this difficult time,” said Lt. Cmdr. Jonathan Andrechik, the command duty officer at Sector Houston-Galveston. “We are deeply saddened by this outcome, and we appreciate the dedicated efforts of everyone involved in the search.”

Samira was on a field trip to Galveston with KIPP Voyage students when she swam out to a sandbar and disappeared. A teacher who swam out with the girls was a trained lifeguard according to the school.

The U.S. Coast Guard searched eight miles along the shore and an additional eight miles from the air Thursday and Friday. Teams were deployed on a helicopter, a boat and even a human chain of lifeguards were used to look for any sign of the missing girl. Galveston County’s CERT team of volunteers also assisted in the search.

The Coast Guard joined 19 lifeguards and 2 personal watercraft from Galveston Beach Patrol along with multiple personnel assisting from Galveston Police Department and Fire Department in search of the girl by boat and helicopter.

The Coast Guard also continued an Urgent Marine Information Broadcast throughout Friday evening into Saturday. Galveston Beach Patrol continued their searches Saturday as well.

KIPP’s superintendent sent the following statement to parents Saturday:

“I am deeply saddened to be writing you with this news. We have learned that our missing 6th grader from KIPP Voyage Academy has passed away. She went missing while swimming in Galveston during a field trip this week. Her body was found today.

She was deeply beloved at KIPP Voyage, with a constant smile that lit up a room. She was positive, curious, and energetic in her approach to learning and a caring teammate. She was an exemplary student and showed passion for every one of her classes. An enthusiastic dancer, she was always eager to learn new styles of dance and loved making up her own choreography. She was bold and brave. To KIPP Voyage she was truly “a light.”

Please keep her family in your thoughts and prayers. Thank you for your support during this difficult time.”